How much is smoking REALLY costing you?

This is the big question young people are being asked on Youth Tobacco Free Day, this Friday March 19.

The annual event aims to raise awareness of tobacco as a health and social issue among young Australians aged 10 to 25 years.

Bianca Crosling from QUIT said this year's Youth Tobacco Free Day aims to highlight the financial cost of smoking and encourage young people to think about other things they could spend their money on.

"Smoking comes at a high price and without a single benefit. All it does is cost you."

With prices averaging around $13.50 a packet, a heavy smoker can see almost $5,000 going up in smoke every year.

"Not only is the habit leaving young smokers with less money - it's costing them their looks, their fitness and their social lives", Ms Crosling said.

Young people are being encouraged to visit www.OxyGen.org.au to find out how much smoking is really costing them. There are more than 40 great prizes to be won including signed gear from the Hilltop Hoods, iTunes vouchers and gift cards to your favourite clothing stores simply by playing Scary Maths and registering your contact details online before 16 April.

An online poll on the OxyGen site is also calling for young people to have their say on whether increasing cigarette packs to $20 each, would encourage them to quit smoking or prevent them from taking up smoking. Results will be published on OxyGen.

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